WACO biplanes—all-time classics
Stan Alexander ([email protected])
WACO, or the Weaver Aircraft Company, manufactured personal and business airplanes under several company names from 1919 until 1947. The company built not only biplanes, but also monoplane gliders that were flown by the Allied forces in World War II.
WACO aircraft have served in the military as trainers as well as attack aircraft. They have raced, are almost all aerobatic, and have run mail routes, especially with Northwest Airways in the early 1930s.
One of my favorites is the airmail special: the JYM taperwing. It has a stretched fuselage for carrying more mail. One has been restored and is flying today. Cool! I love to see old biplanes back in the sky; it's a bit of aeronautical history brought back to life.
Aeromodelers have been fascinated with WACO biplanes and gliders for many years. Plans, kits, and, more recently, ARFs have been produced from the 1930s until now. Choices of plans and kits are almost endless for those who are yearning to build a WACO. The AMA Plans Service sells more than 80 sets for various versions.
Aircraft Modelers Research sells two sizes of the WACO YMF-5: one at 33% and the other at 40%. The 33% version has an upper wingspan of 120 inches and a fuselage length of 91 inches. The 40% version has an upper wingspan of 142 inches and can be powered by a 240cc engine.
When I include a photo of a WACO in this column, I receive more mail about it than almost any other picture. That happened with a photograph of Chuck Brooks’ 72-inch-span YMF-5 from the spring 2010 One Eighth Air Force Scale Model Fly-In. Questions I received ranged from what kit it was built from, to whether or not it was an ARF, to where one could be purchased. Sometimes I receive many questions from readers, and if I don't know the answer I usually know someone who does!
Chuck, who lives in Tucson, Arizona, flew his WACO all weekend with a Quadra .35 gas engine, which has more than 30 years of service on it. Guidance was provided by a Spektrum DX7 2.4 GHz radio system. He assembled the airplane from a Cox ARF, which, according to him, has been discontinued, and reports that parts are unavailable for the model. Chuck thinks that you might find one of the WACOs on eBay or through RC Universe. “It appears to be a rough copy of the Pica WACO,” he wrote.
Chuck has made several modifications to the ARF, one of which was to change the main landing gear for strength and a more scale appearance. This has also helped the landings. He also modified the tail wheel setup.
His YMF-5 uses a single servo on the rudder, the throttle, and the elevators. Two servos drive the four ailerons, and Chuck has had no problems with this setup. He also noted that there is no right thrust or downthrust on the engine mount.
“It is a great aircraft but will make you work for good landings,” he wrote. “But then I like a challenge.”
Mike Barbee built a 33% WACO from an Aircraft Modelers Research kit. The impressive aircraft is powered by a five-cylinder radial engine, has smoke options, and features a great deal of scale realism.
New Products
I've been looking for a good source of Sitka spruce wing spars for some time. Few major hobby suppliers carry this type of wood anymore, but I did find a company that does!
Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co., for full-scale aviation, has a huge variety of sizes and lengths of cap-strip stock that will work well for model wing spars. The spruce is sold by the foot: 1/4 x 1/4-inch stock is 21¢ per foot and 5/16 x 5/16-inch is 26¢ per foot.
Those prices are for lengths of less than 7 feet; if you choose longer pieces, the price goes up (about 20%), as do shipping costs. Less than 7 feet should be fine for most of us aeromodelers, but Aircraft Spruce can take care of your needs if you're building a huge project.
I've placed my first order with the company. I'll let you know what happens.
Upcoming Events
- The spring One Eighth Air Force Scale Model Fly-In will be held in Phoenix, Arizona, at Adobe Mountain Park, March 18–20.
- Howard Kennedy relayed to me that the club will also host the Gunsmoke Scale Masters Qualifier March 4–6 at Superstition Air Park in Mesa, Arizona.
Check out the One Eighth Air Force website for more information about these events.
The Top Gun invitational will be held April 28–May 2 at the Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in Lakeland, Florida—the site where the Sun ’n Fun full-scale event is held.
Top Gun features some of the best competition and beautiful, large, complex scale models that you will see anywhere in the country. Frank Tiano and his crew are hosting the event again. Competition, an air show, vendors, parties, and great friends—Top Gun is all of this. Check it out.
On the Web
WACO Classic Aircraft Corporation builds and sells new full-scale YMF-5D and YMF-5C Barnstormer Edition airplanes at its facility in Battle Creek, Michigan. I visited the factory several years ago and was quite impressed with the operation and the different processes that are required to produce a biplane.
For more information about the company and its airplanes, as well as e-brochures and downloads, check out the website. I've included the address in the "Sources" list.
Bookshelf
Finding books about Japanese WWII aircraft and aviation is tough, but finding good books on the subject is even harder.
I'm going to grade this and future books on content for modelers rather than simply content. Keeping in mind how most aeromodelers use the book will make for a quicker and more objective assessment. It might also steer editors and authors toward what would be helpful for their consumers.
Through the Historic Aviation catalog I selected a series of books (priced $24.95–$28.95) from the Air Collection on Japanese military aircraft. The color is good, and the print is well defined.
Although the books contain much written information about squadrons and how the forces were organized, as well as the aces and pilots of the different forces, there wasn't one photo in the first two editions I examined.
Following is my point assessment—out of a possible 100—of this series. I'll try to gauge all future "Bookshelf" reviews in the same manner.
- Photos (general): 0
- Period photos: 0
- Detail photos: 0
- Color three-views: 0
- Color side views: 10
- History: 10
- Exploded views: 0
- Paint/color documentation: 0
- Aircraft specifications: 10
I can give these books only 40 points, due to the lack of photos to back the accuracy of the color side views. I grouped some categories, such as detail pictures of the cockpit, cowl, engine, gear, etc. Many books now have exploded views for some aircraft parts.
Let me know what you think!
Fair skies and tailwinds. MA
Sources
- Aircraft Modelers Research
(450) 677-4694 www.amr-rc.com
- Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co.
(800) 861-3192 www.aircraftspruce.com
- One Eighth Air Force
- Top Gun 2011
- WACO Classic Aircraft
(269) 565-1000 www.wacoclassic.com
- Historic Aviation
(800) 225-5575 www.historicaviation.com
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
